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Taraz

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Taraz

Taraz, Ancient Silk Road city in southern Kazakhstan

Description

Taraz is a city in southern Kazakhstan near the border with Kyrgyzstan, sitting on the banks of the Talas River. The built environment ranges from Soviet-era apartment blocks to newer commercial buildings with wide boulevards in between.

History

A medieval settlement grew here into an important trading center along the Silk Road until Mongol armies destroyed the city in the 13th century. After several centuries the area was resettled under Russian rule and renamed several times.

Culture

The old name still connects with traditional bazaars where traders offer spices and carpets in small shops. Families meet in late afternoon at public parks and under trees along the main streets.

Practical

Most sights sit in the center and are reachable on foot while buses run to more distant neighborhoods. Summer months can get very hot so spring or autumn visits are recommended.

Did you know?

Local legends tell that a battle between Arab and Chinese armies in the 8th century led to the capture of Chinese papermakers. These craftsmen then brought their techniques westward and permanently changed written culture.

Location
Inception
1720
Elevation above the sea
610 m
GPS coordinates
42.88333,71.36667
Latest update
December 15, 2025 02:06

AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Zhambyl Qalasy).

« Taraz - Ancient Silk Road city in southern Kazakhstan » is provided by Around Us (aroundus.com). Images and texts are derived from Wikimedia project under a Creative Commons license. You are allowed to copy, distribute, and modify copies of this page, under the conditions set by the license, as long as this note is clearly visible.

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